A system comprising contact and motion sensors adapted to sports equipment and coupled to a computer for the wireless communication of performance data. The computer is connected to a display for the visual simulation of player performance information and may be connected to other computers, thereby permitting competitive play among remote players.
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1. A system including a server, a host processor, and a network of game systems, each game system comprising: a ball receptacle, a motion sensing device, a sports implement, a speaker, a display device, a processor, and a wireless signal receiver; the ball receptacle comprising an open end configured to receive a ball, a contact sensor, a first amplifier, and a first analog-to-digital converter, the contact sensor configured to transmit contact data to the first amplifier, the first amplifier configured to receive contact data from the contact sensor and transmit amplified contact data to the first analog-to-digital converter, and the first analog-to-digital converter configured to receive amplified contact data from the first amplifier and transmit digital contact data to the wireless signal receiver; the motion sensing device comprising a plurality of electrically isolated capacitors, an electrically conductive interior surface, an insulating layer, a variance detection member, a second amplifier, and a second analog-to-digital converter, the insulating layer disposed between the plurality of electrically isolated capacitors and the electrically conductive interior surface, the second amplifier configured to receive motion data from the variance detection member and transmit amplified motion data to the second analog-to-digital converter, and the second analog-to-digital converter configured to receive amplified motion data from the second amplifier and transmit digital contact data to the wireless signal receiver; the sports implement comprising a hitting surface, a third amplifier, and a third analog-to-digital converter, the hitting surface comprising a transducer array, the transducer array including one or more piezoelectric elements, the transducer array configured to transmit contact data to the third amplifier, the third amplifier configured to receive contact data from the contact sensor and transmit amplified contact data to the third analog-to-digital converter, and the third analog-to-digital converter configured to receive amplified contact data from the third amplifier and transmit digital contact data to the wireless signal receiver; the processor programmed to receive digital motion data and digital contact data from the wireless signal receiver, analyze the digital motion data and the digital contact data received from the wireless signal receiver, transform the digital motion data and the digital contact data into graphic data, sound data, and performance data, transmit the sound data to the speaker, transmit the graphic data to the display device, and transmit the performance data to the server; and the server configured to transfer local player events from a remote player site to another remote player site for presentation to another player, transmit turn notification data to remote player sites, receive and measure player time delays, disconnect player remotes sites with excessive time delays, conduct internet search for additional player remote sites.
A networked gaming system for remote players includes a central server, a host processor, and individual game systems. Each game system has a ball receptacle with a contact sensor to detect when a ball enters, a motion sensor (capacitive type) to track movement, a sports implement (like a bat or club) with a hitting surface containing piezoelectric transducers to measure impact, a speaker for sound, a display, a processor, and a wireless receiver. The sensors' data is amplified, converted to digital signals, and sent wirelessly to the processor. The processor analyzes the data, creates graphics, sound, and performance metrics, and sends this information to the display, speaker, and the central server. The central server relays player actions between remote sites, manages turns, monitors player latency, disconnects players with high lag, and searches for new players.
2. A system including a sports implement, a speaker, a processor, and a wireless signal receiver; the sports implement comprising a hitting surface, a third amplifier, and a third analog-to-digital converter, the hitting surface comprising a transducer array, the transducer array including one or more piezoelectric elements, the transducer array configured to transmit contact data to the third amplifier, the third amplifier configured to receive contact data from the contact sensor and transmit amplified contact data to the third analog-to-digital converter, and the third analog-to-digital converter configured to receive amplified contact data from the third amplifier and transmit digital contact data to the wireless signal receiver; the processor programmed to receive digital motion data and digital contact data from the wireless signal receiver, analyze the digital motion data and the digital contact data received from the wireless signal receiver, transform the digital motion data and the digital contact data into performance data, and transmit the performance data to a server; and the server configured to transfer local player events from a remote player site to another remote player site for presentation to another player, transmit turn notification data to remote player sites, receive and measure player time delays, disconnect player remotes sites with excessive time delays, and conduct as internet search for additional player remote sites.
A gaming system involves a sports implement (like a bat or club) with a hitting surface made of piezoelectric transducers that generate contact data. Amplifiers and analog-to-digital converters process this data before sending it via a wireless signal receiver to a processor. The processor analyzes the digital contact data, transforms it into performance data, and sends it to a central server. The server handles communication between remote players, transferring events between sites for presentation to other players, managing turn notifications, measuring and reacting to player time delays, and searching the internet for additional players to include in the game. The system also includes a speaker.
3. The system of claim 2 , further including a ball receptacle, the ball receptacle comprising an open end configured to receive a ball, a contact sensor, a first amplifier, and a first analog-to-digital converter, the contact sensor configured to transmit contact data to the first amplifier, the first amplifier configured to receive contact data from the contact sensor and transmit amplified contact data to the first analog-to-digital converter, and the first analog-to-digital converter configured to receive amplified contact data from the first amplifier and transmit digital contact data to the wireless signal receiver.
The gaming system described previously, which includes a sports implement (like a bat or club) with a hitting surface made of piezoelectric transducers, amplifiers, analog-to-digital converters, a wireless signal receiver, a processor, and a central server managing remote player interactions, also incorporates a ball receptacle. The receptacle has an opening to receive a ball, a contact sensor to detect the ball, an amplifier and analog-to-digital converter to process the sensor data, and a transmitter to send the digital signal wirelessly. The central server relays player actions between remote sites, transfers events between sites for presentation to other players, manages turn notifications, measures and reacts to player time delays, and searches the internet for additional players to include in the game.
4. The system of claim 2 , further including a motion sensing device, the motion sensing device comprising a plurality of electrically isolated capacitors, an electrically conductive interior surface, an insulating layer, a variance detection member, a second amplifier, and a second analog-to-digital converter, the insulating layer disposed between the plurality of electrically isolated capacitors and the electrically conductive interior surface, the second amplifier configured to receive motion data from the variance detection member and transmit amplified motion data to the second analog-to-digital converter, and the second analog-to-digital converter configured to receive amplified motion data from the second amplifier and transmit digital contact data to the wireless signal receiver.
Building upon the gaming system involving a sports implement (like a bat or club) with a hitting surface containing piezoelectric transducers, amplifiers, analog-to-digital converters, a wireless receiver, processor and a central server managing remote player interactions, this adds a motion sensing device. The motion sensor uses electrically isolated capacitors, an electrically conductive interior surface with an insulating layer, and variance detection to track movement. The motion data is amplified, converted to digital form, and then transmitted wirelessly. The central server relays player actions between remote sites, transfers events between sites for presentation to other players, manages turn notifications, measures and reacts to player time delays, and searches the internet for additional players to include in the game.
5. The system of claim 2 , further including a speaker and a display device, the processor additionally programmed to transform the digital motion data and the digital contact data into graphic data and sound data, transmit the sound data to the speaker and transmit the graphic data to the display device.
Expanding on the basic gaming system that utilizes a sports implement (like a bat or club) with a hitting surface containing piezoelectric transducers, amplifiers, analog-to-digital converters, a wireless receiver, a processor, and a central server managing remote player interactions, this enhancement includes both a speaker and a display device. The processor is additionally programmed to convert sensor data (motion and contact) into graphical and sound outputs, sending the sound data to the speaker and the visual data to the display. The central server relays player actions between remote sites, transfers events between sites for presentation to other players, manages turn notifications, measures and reacts to player time delays, and searches the internet for additional players to include in the game.
6. A system including a motion sensing device, a processor, and a wireless signal receiver; the mat comprising a plurality of electrically isolated capacitors, an electrically conductive interior surface, an insulating layer, a variance detection member, a second amplifier, and a second analog-to-digital converter, the insulating layer disposed between the plurality of electrically isolated capacitors and the electrically conductive interior surface, the second amplifier configured to receive motion data from the variance detection member and transmit amplified motion data to the second analog-to-digital converter, and the second analog-to-digital converter configured to receive amplified motion data from the second amplifier and transmit digital contact data to the wireless signal receiver; the processor programmed to receive digital motion data and digital contact data from the wireless signal receiver, analyze the digital motion data and the digital contact data received from the wireless signal receiver, transform the digital motion data and the digital contact data into performance data, and transmit the performance data to a server; and the server configured to transfer local player events from a remote player site to another remote player site for presentation to another player, transmit turn notification data to remote player sites, receive and measure player time delays, disconnect player remotes sites with excessive time delays, and conduct an internet search for additional player remote sites.
A system for online gaming includes a motion sensing device, a processor, and a wireless signal receiver. The motion sensor comprises a grid with electrically isolated capacitors, an electrically conductive interior surface, and an insulating layer, combined with variance detection. Motion is translated through amplifiers and analog-to-digital converters. Data is then wirelessly transmitted to the processor. The processor analyzes digital motion and contact data, transforms it into performance data, and transmits it to a server. The server then manages the networked game by relaying player events from one remote site to others, sending turn notifications, monitoring player latencies, disconnecting high-latency players, and discovering new player sites.
7. The system of claim 6 , further including a ball receptacle, the ball receptacle comprising an open end configured to receive a ball, a contact sensor, a first amplifier, and a first analog-to-digital converter, the contact sensor configured to transmit contact data to the first amplifier, the first amplifier configured to receive contact data from the contact sensor and transmit amplified contact data to the first analog-to-digital converter, and the first analog-to-digital converter configured to receive amplified contact data from the first amplifier and transmit digital contact data to the wireless signal receiver.
The networked gaming system featuring a motion sensing grid, a processor, and wireless data transmission, managed by a central server (that relays events, manages turns, monitors latency, and searches for players), also integrates a ball receptacle. This receptacle has an opening to receive the ball, a contact sensor to register its arrival, and amplifiers and analog-to-digital converters that prepare the signal for wireless transmission.
8. The system of claim 6 , further including a sports implement, the sports implement comprising a hitting surface, a third amplifier, and a third analog-to-digital converter, the hitting surface comprising a transducer array, the transducer array including one or more piezoelectric elements, the transducer array configured to transmit contact data to the third amplifier, the third amplifier configured to receive contact data from the contact sensor and transmit amplified contact data to the third analog-to-digital converter, and the third analog-to-digital converter configured to receive amplified contact data from the third amplifier and transmit digital contact data to the wireless signal receiver.
Building on the networked gaming system which utilizes a motion sensing grid, processor, wireless data transmission, and central server (that relays events, manages turns, monitors latency, and searches for players), this also incorporates a sports implement. This implement, such as a bat, features a hitting surface comprised of a piezoelectric transducer array, amplifiers, and analog-to-digital converters, all used to detect and process contact data.
9. The system of claim 6 , further including a speaker and a display device, the processor additionally programmed to transform the digital motion data and the digital contact data into graphic data and sound data, transmit the sound data to the speaker, and transmit the graphic data to the display device.
Extending the motion-sensing networked game, governed by a server (which relays events, manages turns, monitors latency, and searches for players), this implementation adds audio-visual feedback. Specifically, it incorporates a speaker and display device. The processor is further programmed to translate sensor data (motion and contact) into graphic and audio data, directing sound to the speaker and visuals to the display.
10. The system of claim 6 , further including a network of game systems, each game system being operated by a user.
The system with motion sensing, a processor, wireless communication, and a central server (which relays events, manages turns, monitors latency, and searches for players) is configured as a multi-user game. The system includes a network of game systems, each operated by a distinct user.
Cooperative Patent Classification codes for this invention. Click any code to explore related patents in that topic.
April 26, 2010
May 30, 2017
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